Thursday, December 20, 2012

I chose to live above hate

It blows my mind that we are already at the 10 month mark.
Almost a year. Almost a year ago men came over a ridge with the intent of
killing as many as possible. I believe its simply God’s divine will that my
soul mate managed to come back to us. I still don’t know everything that went
on that day. Or if the man who shot that rocket in G.I.Joe’s direction is alive
or dead. All I know is they wanted him out of this world and our lives have
changed so much since that day.

Lots of amazing things have been happening lately in our
family. For one, G.I. Joe’s canes have been collecting dust! His full recovery
is still projected for sometime next summer, so we have a ways to go, but
progress is happening. Christmas Eve will also be our 7th wedding
anniversary! He left for Iraq when we had been married a week and that’s also
made me really think about some things. When we were 19 year old newlyweds I
had no clue what trials lay before us. I only knew that even hard times with
him were better than an “easy” life with someone else.

I still feel that way. After 2 wars, 2 kids, and
life-altering injury…I’m blessed. Don’t get me wrong, I do have bad days.
Things can get very discouraging and I shed a lot of tears. I cry when I think
it seems like it will be so long before we can own our own home. If I could get
a job right now, we could swing it. But its not possible. I can’t manage his
care, be there to help Lucy through this, and get a job. There just aren’t
enough hours. G.I. Joe wants more than anything to give us a home of our own,
but it has to wait. Sometimes I cry when simple tasks are just more struggle
than they should be. He gets sick easily and doesn’t have the same energy that
he did before the attack so it makes for long days with little productivity.
Hearing Lucy cry, completely out of nowhere, because she is scared he will
leave the house and get hurt again or worse…that takes the wind from sails.

These things hurt my heart. I would be lying if I said I
never wanted a time-out from our circumstances for an hour or if I said I was
never jealous of the tiny problems other people often mistake for day-ruining
events.

But I refuse to let that hurt turn to hate. That’s what the
terrorists want. If they couldn’t take G.I. Joe from this world I know the next
best thing would be to know they ruined our lives and put us through hell. I
won’t give people that satisfaction. They attacked him, and other soldiers,
because we stand against oppression and hate. I won’t let them win. Not in this
house, and not in my heart. What they don’t realize is that for every
heartbreak along the way there has been a blessing.

One vile act of hatred gave opportunity for countless acts
of love.

I’m more grateful for the small things in life than ever
before. I don’t take as much for granted and we live a more fulfilling life
now. Hanging on to the hate and anger would just drain our joy. That’s not
something I’m willing to waste my time on. Next year we’re starting up our
non-profit to benefit children living in military hospitals everywhere. I’ve
been given the opportunity to advocate for better wounded warrior care and the
United States Navy has expressed interest in implementing my ideas already.
We’ve been able to help other people because we went through this tragedy. And
next year…my G.I. Joe will return to duty to keep fighting terrorism around the
globe. Our life is not something to mourn or be angry about. None of these amazing
things would happen, or mean as much, had we not been able to walk through this
valley. So if I could ever say something to person who shot that rocket 10
months ago this would be it….

I forgive you.

I feel sorry for you that your life clearly doesn’t have as
much joy and laughter as ours.

I pray for you. Truth be told I probably need to do it more
often, but

I pray for your soul.

That may sound crazy to some but once upon a time a man
named Saul

killed a whole lot of people that he hated.

He encountered God on a lonely road and

Became perhaps the greatest evangelist and gospel speaker of
all time.

I believe God can still work miracles.

I pray for your wife and children.

I pray that while on earth they are able to enjoy love and
innocence.

I pray that when they do leave this earth, whenever that may
be,

That they will leave it with the God of Love in their hearts

So that they can boldly approach His throne in Heaven and be
comforted by Him.

You tried to destroy us.

But God’s plan for our life needed you to bring us to a
point

where we could better serve our fellow man.

Because of you I’ve uttered the phrase “Thank you Jesus”
more than ever before.

Because of you we’ve exchanged anger for compassion.

Our lives will truly never be the same because of what you
did 10 months ago.